Plumbing, Shower Installation
Shower Installation Guide

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02/07/25, 14:04
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Shower Installation Guide
Scope of Works
Conduct pre-installation survey: check water pressure, cable routes, waste runs and structural support.
Isolate services; remove any old unit, tiles or enclosure as required.
First-fix plumbing (and electrics for electric/digital showers): run hot/cold feeds, fit isolation valves, upgrade cabling or RCD spur.
Position and secure shower valve or electric unit; pressure-test joints or carry out electrical dead-tests.
Install tray or enclosure (if part of the job), tank/waterproof surrounding walls, re-tile or panel, and grout.
Fit riser rail, fixed head or rainfall arm; set temperature limits and commission.
Seal all junctions with sanitary silicone, clean site and provide user hand-over plus workmanship warranty.
Typical Cost (inc. VAT)
Charge type | Low £ | High £ | Notes |
Call-out / minimum | 50 | 95 | First 30–60 min, often credited back Checkatrade |
Labour per hour | 40 | 60 | Typical 2025 plumbing rate Yell |
Materials | 250 | 1 200 | Electric unit £150–£300; mixer/thermo + tray & glass up to £1.2 k HomeHowBest Electric Shower |
Disposal (old shower / tiles) | 50 | 150 | Skip or tip fees |
Extras (re-tiling, wiring upgrade, pumped waste) | 0 | 400 | Only if revealed on site |
TOTAL (most jobs come in here) | 600 | 2 300 | Wall-mounted shower or tray + valve in an existing bathroom |
Time on Site
4 – 8 hours for a straight swap electric or mixer unit on sound walls.
Up to 2 days if new tray/enclosure, re-tiling, or electrical upgrades are included.Delays arise from tile curing times, chasing pipes into masonry, or waiting on Part P sign-off.
Questions to Ask Your Tradie
Which shower type suits my water pressure and boiler (electric, mixer, power, digital)?
Is full waterproof tanking or tile backer board included behind the valve?
Will electrical work be signed off by a Part P-registered electrician?
How long do I need to keep the room water-free after sealing?
What warranty do you provide on both the product and your workmanship?
Does the quote cover removal of the old unit, tiles and packaging?
Are there extra charges for parking, weekend working or unforeseen pipe rerouting?
How to Avoid Surprises
Access & Parking: Reserve a space for van/skip; clear a path through the house.
Isolation Valves: Ensure stopcock works or request fitting of new service valves.
Tile Stock: Keep spare tiles on site for patching if only part-walls need tiling.
Electrical Load: Check consumer unit capacity if fitting a high-kW electric shower.
Building Regs: Confirm extractor fan meets current ventilation requirements.
After-care: Get written care instructions and confirm the first maintenance check (filter clean, valve service).
All prices are indicative mainland-UK ranges for 2025 and include VAT.
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